By Jeff Wardon, Jr., Assistant Editor

Police took a man into custody due to an alleged bomb threat he made to the UW Health SwedishAmerican Hospital in Rockford, Illinois, on April 19, the Rockford Register Star reports. The threat was unfounded, according to the police. The suspect was arrested and taken to the Winnebago County Jail. 

Healthcare facilities are subjected to many threats of violence. Facility managers who maintain an emergency preparedness plan, review it regularly and practice it with employees can help prepare healthcare staff for when threats do come in, according to a hospital security executive. 

“Following reports of a potential physical security threat, even if they're not credible, hospitals should maintain heightened vigilance and review their security and emergency protocols,” Errol Weiss, chief security officer at Health-ISAC, previously told Healthcare Facilities Today. “A visible security presence can serve as a deterrent.” 

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A security presence can come in many forms, such as officers and access control. Security officers can patrol a building and respond quickly to threats because of their mobility. However, if they can’t lock down the building, access controls come into play. 

“Should a critical event or violent incident occur, areas of an access-managed healthcare facility can be locked down instantly to help contain the threat,” Doug Coppola, senior director of healthcare solutions for North America at Lenel S2, told Healthcare Facilities Today.  

Additionally, Coppola says that advanced access control solutions can incorporate personal panic devices and video analytics to identify and/or mitigate a threat before it gets worse. With layers of security at work, healthcare facilities can effectively guard against threats and contain them when necessary.  

Jeff Wardon, Jr., is the assistant editor for the facilities market.